Government, public to hold online discussion over cyber security strategies

The Russian government will be having an online discussion with the public to hear what people think about the new cyber security strategy it has developed, the website of the upper chamber of parliament stated.

The online discussion is set to last one month, according to
Senator Ruslan Gattarov, who is leading the project.

Afterward, the feedback and new proposals received will be
analyzed, incorporated and the new modified strategy will be
developed.

The concept of Russia’s cyber security was presented by the
Federation Council in April 2013.

Russia’s Interior Ministry and Communications Ministry also took
part in the development of the strategy.

The main goal is to get feedback and ideas about how to improve
existing laws around information security in Russia.

The document’s authors say their main goal was to “formulate
the model of threats to cyber security in Russia” and to define
“the directions and measures to counter them.”

However, there are concrete suggestions in the text of the
document, which has been posted online for public attention and
debate.

For instance, a “cyber education” course is suggested to be
introduced in schools and higher education institutions.

Also, it’s proposed to organize special cyber security centers,
which will consult citizens and companies on cyber security
issues.

In August, the Russian Defense Ministry announced its plans to
create a separate branch of military forces, aimed at combating
cyber-attacks.

Also in August, President Vladimir Putin signed a document that
defined cyber attacks as a major threat to international
security. It also suggested that such threats be countered by a
special international body.

The topic of cyber security is becoming an ever greater concern
for governments around the globe and individuals, in light of the
revelations by whistleblower Edward Snowden about the National
Security Agency’s (NSA) global snooping tactics.